Neon sign



Nov. 3, 1936.

W. G. GREEN NEON SIGN Filed Nov. 11, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOR'NEY `Nw;2.,`1936. l y GGREEN 2,059,451`

` Y NEON SIGN Filed Nov. l1, '1935 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ws am r/ll'1.11111llalllllllllll'lfilippi/11,11,1111141114 l A [35 L ly.. Zul/25. L )(2) I t lvENoR K?) f," 47 W/l//a/n 6. Green.

"ances and binding posts. m c Fig. 3is a perspective view of therear portion vture into the block units andtheir support.

Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED `STATES PATENT lOFFICE r 2,059,451 1 Uf 4 f l NEON srorN c c William `(3i. Green, Application; November 11; 1935, serial No; 49,211 y solaims. (CLM- 130i This invention relates to signs and moreparticularly to luminescent gas tube signs, thecharacters ofv which are illuminated to provide an advertising display.` V

y he principalobject` of "the present invention is to`provide a. sign of this naturen which the characters are removable in'such a manner that advertising messages of variable context may be displayed. i l

Otherrobjectsof thepresentA invention are to provide a so-called neon sign, the character and blank' unitsz of which'fmay be mounted inv any arrangement in parallel or series circuit and yet retain the resistance of `the circuit at the rating of the transformer supplying the sign; to provide diierential resistances `between the electrodes 'of individual characters whereby each character vunit has equal'resistance, and to provide novel means to adapt the sign for removing and replacing individual characters. l

Other important objects o1' the invention are to provide an improved mounting of the gas tubes to expose only the portion of `the tubes forming the characters, and to prevent entrance of moisandbetween theblocks a In 'accomplishing these and other-objects oi' the invention I have?v provided improved details oi structure, the preferred form of which isshown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a, perspective view of a theatre canopy i equipped with neon tube characters embodying the features of my invention. l

" Fig. 2 isa yperspective view of one of the characters, parts of the insulatingwmountingfbeing broken away to show=the tube electrodes, resistofan individual character, particularlyshowing the plug connectionsfor the characters with the baseofthesign., l A

Fig. 4 is a liongitudinal cross` section on the line `4 -4, Fig. 1, particularly showing the con-v struction of the character mounting and block.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section c. on the line 5 5, Fig.` l, particularly showing the detail construction of one offlthe` character` blocks as it is mountedinthebase. i, Fig. 6 is a vertical `cross section through one of the blankblocks of the sign particularlyv showing; the resistance element used in the blank for establishing the` same resistance value.` as the character blocks. i

Fig. 'I is a rear elevational view, `showing a as to present a message to the public.

suitable material of similar nature.' 4The base 9 `partnient I4 containing electrical `circuit whereby the blocks are connected `in I designates a sign embodyingthe features of thepresent invention which is mounted, for the purpose ci illustration only, on the outwardly facing sides of a canopy 2 overhanging the en- "trance `to a theatre or the like, the sign beingfm shown in this instance as including rows 3, I, 5 and E made up of individual character bearing `blocks 1 and blank blocks 8, which are so related `The character-bearing blocks 1, one of which i5 is particularly shown in Fig.2, each includes a `rectangular base 9 of durable, rigid and insulating material `such'asf hardrubvber, one oi-the synthetic resinsknow'n as "bakelite, or other includes side and end walls I and Il, a back wall I2, and an open' front I3 to form a comparts of the blocks as now to be described. V

The back wall I2 of the base is ldrilled centrally of its width and at spaced vertical points 25 `to provide apertures for the insertion of the threaded ends I of plugsf I6 and I1. 'I'heplugs are Provided at the inner termination of their `threaded ends with'v` circular i'ianges I8 ior re-` 3 taining cup shaped gaskets I9, and to provide "stop shoulders for the threaded ends of the plugs.

The other 'outer ends of the `plugs are smoothly rounded and providedwith peripheral grooves spaced inwardly fromsaid rounded ends ior 3 a purpose laterdescribed; The threaded ends of the 'plugs are provided with nuts 2| tov hold the plugs firmlyin the base and againstwhch the terminal leads 2'2 from luminescent tubes 23 are retained byjamb nuts 24. The threadedv40 ends of the plugs thus also serve as terminals `25 and 26 to facilitate connection `,of the tubes. In order thatthe letters or characters may be interchangeable to compose any. desired sign or wording it is necessary that each character have the same resistance value,` but/sincel each character requires a different length tube to produce it, the resistances thereof vary and it is therefore necessaryto connect thereto vr'esistances having 50 the proper value to give each rcharacter the same electrical resistance'so that Ywhen inserted in the sign they will be of the samebrightness. f

Therefore, resistances 21 and 28 of a strength predetermined in relation to thetotal length of 55 the tubes and electrical energy passing therethrough are connected in the leads 22.

The tubes 23 are formed of translucent material and are shaped to form the desired characters, after which they are filled with gases such as neon, helium or argon, under proper pressure conditions, and supplemented with suitable metallic vapors to emit desired colors when the gas is electrically excited, as in conventional practice.

A plastic insulating filler 29 is then suitably placed in the compartment i4 to enclose the binding posts and resistances and to cover the portions of the tubes not required in forming the characters. The character forming portions of the tubes are also partially embedded and cushioned in the filler 29 to protect them against breakage, and to prevent incorrect diffusion of light rays when the sign is illuminated. T'he plastic material also eliminates possibility of shorting of the high tension current across the terminals in damp weather.

It may be noted that in signs of this nature the source of venergy for exciting the gas in the tubes is usually of a type which must be stepped up to provide high potential energy to obtain the best result for illumination of ythe gas in the tubes. In accomplishing this steppingup, a transformer 3| of conventional design is positioned between the'source of current and the circuit wires 32 leading to the buss connections for the characters.

The blank blocks 8 include bases `and terminal plugs of identically the same construction as the character blocks; the terminals, however, are connected by a resistance 33 of the same value as the letter blocks. The resistance 33 is oompletely embedded in the plastic filler so that the front faces of the blocks present flat surfaces in plane with the front faces of the letter or character blocks.

The blocks, both character and blanks, are mounted in any desired sequence on a sign board 35 to present an advertising message to the public. The sign board 35 is provided with a series of openings 36 arranged in rows 31 conforming in spacing to the spacing of the plug terminals of the respective blocks. The outer ends of the apertures 36 are enlarged as at 3", to provide clearance for the bearing portions i8 ot the plugs, and to provide a close nt for the block against the base whereby danger of shorting out" the lights due to water collecting around the plugs between the blocks and base is prevented, the cup-shaped gaskets I3 being compressed for aiding in preventing such shorting out.

When the plugs are inserted through the openings, the rounded ends thereof complete a circuit through plug retaining contacts 33 and 39, plan views of which are shown in Figs. 'l and 8, and cross sections thereof in Figs. 5 and 6. The brackets are suitably secured 'to the rear side of the sign base mounting as by the screws shown. The contacts include spring fingers 4D having in-stuck ribs Il for engaging in the grooves 2li of the plugs to hold them in position on the sign until forcibly removed therefrom. One of the retaining screws on each bracket is provided witha binding post 42 for securing a wire I3 leading to and from a source `of current in connection with all of the blocks in one circuit.

The blocks as described, may bev connected in either parallel or series circuits.

In Fig. 'l I have shown the sign blocks mounted in a sign in which the contacts are wired in a parallel circuit, the characters being connected across the conductors M and 4B leading from the terminals of the transformer Il. If the sign is oi large size, a selective number of contacts may be connected in one circuit and the remainder in another circuit. However, in any instance, each circuit in the sign will always have the same current demand regardless of the word characters used in composing the sign.

In Fig. 8 I have shown the contacts of the sign as connected in series circuit by means of conductors 46 connecting the contact of one block with the opposite contact of an adjacent block,

Aas shown.

In assembling a sign constructed as described, various individual blocks, selected to spell out desired words are mounted on the sign base by inserting Athe plugs on the blocks through the apertures in the base, so that they engage the contacts on the rear side of the sign board as shown in Fig. 5. The spaces between the words are filled in by blank blocks having the resistances 33. If all of the plug-in places in the circuit are not iilled when the sign is completed, blank blocks are applied to these spaces to maintain the resistance of the circuit at a constant value and within the range of the transformer.

When the blocks are assembled, current courses through the wires 43, contacts 38-39, plugs iii-I1, resistances 21-28, and the gas filled tubes of each letter block to excite the gas and illuminate that portion of the sign, after which the current flows through the outlet current wire, completing the circuit.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a sign of the luminescent gas nlled type wherein the individual units are readily removable to change the wording or character of the sign for any desired occasion. It is also apparent that the current demand for any set up of letters is kept at a constant value and within the range of the transformer.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sign of the character described, a sign character including a block of insulating material having an open front compartment, contact plugs carried by said block, a gas charged tube carried in the block and having electrical connections with the plugs, a resistance element in the block and connected in series with one of the plugs and with the tube, and a plastic insulating material filling said compartment to enclose the resistance element and to expose selective portions of the tube to form a character.

2. In combination with a sign character mounting member having a plurality of pairs of openings arranged in definite relation to each other and electrical contacts carried by the mounting member in registering alignment with said openings, a. plurality of characters each including a block of insulating material, plugs carried by said blocks and projectable through any selected pair of openings for engaging said contacts, gas charged tubes carried by the blocks, and electrical connections between the tubes and the plugs including compensating means whereby lthe characters are interchangeable with each other to compose a sign.

3. In combination with a sign character mounting member having a plurality of pairs o! contacts and means supplying electric current to the-contacts a plurality of sign characters each including a block, means carried by each block for engaging any one of the pairs of contacts. 15

, y y g ,osassi i m charged tubes earned by seieeiea bloem, electrical connections between the tubes and the con. tacting `means of the selected blocks, electrical resistance elements connected in circuit with the yees contact meansot the other blocks, and compensating resistances connected with the tubes whereby the blocks having the tubes have substantially the same electrical resistance as the blocks provided with the electrical resistance elements.

4. In combination with a sign character mounting member having a plurality of pairs of openings arranged in definite relation to each other and electrical contacts carried by the mounting member in registering alignment with said openings, a plurality of characters each including a block of insulating material having an open front compartment, plugs carried by each block projectable through any selected pair of openings for engaging said contacts, gas charged tubes carried by selected blocks, and resistances in other blocks connected with the plugs of said other blocks having substantially the same electrical resistance values as the gas charged tubes whereby the yblocks are interchangeable with each other.

5. In combination with a sign character mounting member having a plurality o! pairs o( openings arranged in definite relation to each other and electrical contacts carried by the mounting member in registering alignment ,with said openings, a plurality of sign characters each including a block of insulating material having an openfrontcompartment, -plug's carried by said 'block projectsble through any selected'pair oi.'

openings for clinging said contacts, a gas charged tubecarried in the block and having electrical connections with the plugs, a plastic insulating material nlling said compartment and exposing selective portions of the tube to iorm a character, and compensating means for each of said sign characters whereby all oi said characters have substantially the same electrical resistance and are interchangeable one with the other.

6. In combination with ay sign character mounting member having a plurality of pairs of openings arranged in deilnite relation to each other and electrical contacts carried by the v'with the plugs of said-blocks, and compensating means for each of said tubes whereby all of said charactershave substantially the same electrical resistance as said resistance elements and are interchangeable one with the other.

Y WILLIAM G. GREEN.

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